Police disown viral statement on training of 50,000 recruits

The Nigeria Police Force has disowned a viral statement claiming that Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, had directed the commencement of training for 50,000 newly recruited police constables.

The Force described the document as fake and warned members of the public, particularly police recruitment applicants, against relying on information contained in the statement.

The disclaimer was issued on Friday after the purported statement circulated widely on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.

The forged document, titled, “IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu Directs Commencement Of Training For 50,000 Newly Recruited Police Constables,” was designed to appear as an official communication of the Nigeria Police Force.

It also carried the name and designation of the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu.

According to the fake statement, Disu had directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Department of Training and Development to commence preparations for the training of the recruits.

It further claimed that the training would focus on discipline, professionalism, integrity, respect for human rights and effective policing.

The document also instructed successful candidates to begin checking the official police recruitment portal from Monday, September 14, 2026, for details of their training institutions and resumption dates.

However, the police said none of the information contained in the document originated from the Force.

“The Nigeria Police Force disclaims the purported Press Release titled, ‘IGP OLATUNJI RILWAN DISU DIRECTS COMMENCEMENT OF TRAINING FOR 50,000 NEWLY RECRUITED POLICE CONSTABLES,’ currently in circulation and bearing the name and designation of the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu,” the Force said.

“The document is false and was neither issued nor authorised by the Nigeria Police Force.”

The Force urged members of the public, especially applicants participating in its recruitment process, to disregard the statement and obtain information only from verified police communication channels.

“Members of the public, particularly Police recruitment candidates, are advised to disregard its contents and rely only on information published through the official Police recruitment portal and verified NPF communication channels,” it said.

The police also announced that an investigation had commenced to identify those responsible for creating and distributing the forged statement.

According to the Force, the perpetrators would face prosecution if apprehended.

“The Force is currently on the trail of the persons responsible for generating and circulating the false document and will take appropriate legal action against those found culpable,” it added.

The police warning comes amid the circulation of several fraudulent recruitment-related messages attributed to security agencies, raising concerns that unsuspecting applicants could be misled or defrauded by false information.